The Church Fathers on this verse

Exodus 8:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Lord also said to Moses: Arise early, and stand before Pharao; for he will go forth to the waters: and thou shalt say to him: Thus saith the Lord: Let my people go to sacrifice to me.

Douay-Rheims

וַיַּ֤עַשׂ יְהוָה֙ כֵּ֔ן וַיָּבֹא֙ עָרֹ֣ב כָּבֵ֔ד בֵּ֥יתָה פַרְעֹ֖ה וּבֵ֣ית עֲבָדָ֑יו וּבְכָל־אֶ֧רֶץ מִצְרַ֛יִם תִּשָּׁחֵ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ מִפְּנֵ֥י הֶעָרֹֽב׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Wlastow G.K.

19th centuryCommentator

Pharaoh, as mentioned in verse 15 of Chapter 5, likely proceeds to the Nile in a formal manner, possibly for a festival—some suggest it marks the occasion of the Nile's waters receding 120 days after the onset of the flood—or to present offerings and prayers in response to the disaster.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.